The opposing team’s fans overpower Long Beach City College students and fans during Viking football games at Veterans’ Stadium.
The only time LBCC has more fans than the away team is during the homecoming football game, and that’s because the students are involved and doing activities on the day of the game.
If there was more student involvement during the games, there would be more students attending the games.
Students are bored during games, with many just sitting there on their phones and taking their eyes off of the game instead of cheering throughout the night.
During timeouts and halftime, student participation, such as contests that lead to giveaways and prizes, would be a good way to improve students’ attendance at games.
For example, Golden West College (GWC) held a field goal contest where if a student made a field goal, they got a gift card to Chick-fil-A. Many GWC students and fans were at the game, far more than LBCC supporters and cheering for the contestants.
If LBCC were to have halftime activities like this, fans would find games more fun and exciting, and the people who are in the contest would have the chance to help fill the seats so their friends/family can come support and look on.
Aside from halftime activities, different activities during the actual game can help get students attracted to a football game and the fun of being in the stands.
A student section would be another option, as well as some competitions and contests for the students in attendance who are in the student section.
Contests such as best/craziest looks – face paint, Vikings attire, costumes, etc. – could help students get rowdy during the games and help bring more fans and students to the game so they can join in on the wild crowd activities with a prize as a factor.
Another fun contest would be to give a prize to the loudest cheering fan(s) throughout the stadium excluding the opposing team fans.
If nobody has anything to do the day/night of a football game and wants to go out and be crazy, these two contests would be the perfect opportunity to do so.
If the crowd is wild and is involved during a game, it will attract more and more people in the area, even if they’re not students, to come root and support their hometown Vikings.
More fans and seats filled will also equal more money made for the school because of ticket sales and snack bar sales.
The students are the voice of the school, so if they are involved during football games and are happy with the events and contests taking place at the stadium, student morale would be even higher and attendance would rise to help fill the stands during games.